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Twins recognize Perkins' steady role at closer

Twins recognize Perkins' steady role at closer

8/20/13: Glen Perkins fans Miguel Cabrera for the final out in the bottom of the ninth, recording his 29th save of the season

By Mark Emery
/
MLB.com |

CLEVELAND -- The significance of Twins closer Glen Perkins' save on Thursday in Detroit was not lost on the Twins.

The save was Perkins' 30th of the season, making him the first Twins reliever to reach that mark since Joe Nathan finished 2009 with 47 saves. In 50 outings this season entering Friday, Perkins has a 2.31 ERA and 90.9 save percentage. Across 50 2/3 innings, the All-Star reliever has 61 strikeouts against 12 walks, while keeping opponents to a .206 batting average.

"He's been one of the steadies," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said, "and it would have been a lot earlier if we had given him more opportunities. We've kind of scuffled along with our season, and we didn't give him enough opportunities, but he's taken advantage of the ones that he's had.

"There haven't been too many that he hasn't been able to finish it off. ... Kind of a fun thing to watch."

Mark Emery is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.